AN air hostess accused of serious drug charges has appeared in court in the United Arab Emirates.

Emirates Airlines cabin attendant Katherine Jenkins, 30, of Cimla, Neath, appeared at a shari'a court in Dubai yesterday along with two other Britons, an Australian and another woman in connection with what anti-drugs police in the country call an international smuggling conspiracy.

Miss Jenkins has been held in jail for more than year since a Dubai drugs squad swoop on her apartment in the city 15 months ago.

She was first tried before a court in the northern emirate of Ras al Khaimah. There, three judges recorded a "no verdict" ruling.

However the case was transferred for retrial to the neighbouring emirate of Dubai where she was originally arrested despite protests from Neath MP and Europe Minister Peter Hain.

Yesterday, for the first time during her second trial, prosecution witnesses appeared. Three gave evidence in Arabic.

But the case was adjourned until February 17 when further prosecution witnesses are due to give evidence against her and the other defendants.

Judges in Dubai had called for an inquiry into the continued absence of the witnesses which has led to several adjournments.

Defence lawyers said afterwards the case was proceeding well, following initial concerns about the length of time the proceedings were taking.

Miss Jenkins has denied being part of any smuggling ring.

She is accused of possessing 50g of cocaine which she has admitted but says she only hid the drugs in a roof space in her Dubai home in panic after she discovered that the Australian defendant in the case, Heidi De Boer, 25, had left the cocaine at her apartment.

Mr Hain has taken up her case with Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. He has urged the ruler to free Miss Jenkins on humanitarian grounds and due to the fact she has been cleared at an earlier hearing.